What is a Prima Donna?
A prima donna is literally the “first lady” in Italian, the woman playing the lead role in an opera production. However, over time, the term has taken on a more sinister meaning, referring to women who are selfish, egotistical, and temperamental. In this sense, it is used much like “diva,” another word with operatic origins which has come to be used in a disparaging way, much to the dismay of genuine prima donnas and divas, who tend to be extremely talented women who excel in the field of music. The term originated in the middle of the 1600s, referring to the female playing the lead role in an opera. Many prima donnas were sopranos historically, as leading roles are typically written for the soprano voice, although a few operas feature a leading contralto or mezzo-soprano. The prima donna was typically entitled to certain rights as the leading woman in the opera, such as her own dressing room and special attentions from the director and composer to ensure that she looked and performed
Well, according to the dictionary, apart from being the chief female singer in an opera, a prima donna is defined simply as “a temperamental person”. And, just as an opera can quite often not replace its chief female singer, no matter how temperamental she is, a fund-raising campaign or event can often look upon one of its temperamental volunteers also as being irreplaceable. Very few people are irreplaceable, but the cost of replacement can often be disastrous to a campaign that is in full swing, or to an event that is scheduled to take place sooner rather than later. What to do? Firstly, remember that there are usually one of two reasons which make a person a prima donna. The first is that they have extremely high standards and believe that no one else shares those standards. The second is quite simply that they are basically insecure. Many of the world’s finest artists are amazingly insecure, and hide that insecurity by adopting a veneer of aggressiveness and abrasiveness. They can’
